The Texas House Committee on Public Health approved a bill Friday afternoon (7-2) that would legalize medical marijuana by fixing what advocates call an “unworkable” medical cannabis program.

The bill will now be considered by the Calendars Committee, which will decide whether it receives a full House vote. The legislation gained significant traction after the committee heard testimony from patients, caregivers, medical professionals, and other advocates late into the evening on Tuesday. The number of representatives signed on as either joint or co-authors jumped from five to more than 70 on Wednesday.

House Bill 2107 would increase the number of medical conditions that qualify for the Texas Compassionate Use Program and allow patients to participate if they receive an official recommendation from their doctors. It would also improve the variety of medical marijuana available to patients. The program currently only permits patients suffering from intractable epilepsy to access specific types of medical marijuana that have been found to be ineffective for some patients. It also requires doctors to “prescribe” medical marijuana, which is not possible under federal law.

“This is critical legislation that could dramatically help thousands of patients and families throughout Texas”, says Heather Fazio, Texas political director for the Marijuana Policy Project. “It will make the Compassionate Use Program workable and more inclusive for patients with debilitating medical conditions. We are seeing an unprecedented level of support for medical cannabis legislation in the House of Representatives, and we hope the Calendars Committee will make it a priority to schedule a vote on this important bill.”

Fazio continues; “Seriously ill Texans should not have to wait another couple years for the medical cannabis program to be fixed. Lawmakers have an opportunity to do it now, and we hope they will do everything in their power to capitalize on it.“

Anthony, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheJointBlog, has worked closely with numerous elected officials who support cannabis law reform, including as the former Campaign Manager for Washington State Representative Dave Upthegrove. He has also been published by multiple media outlets, including the Seattle Times. He can be reached at TheJointBlog@TheJointBlog.com.

The Arizer Solo 2 is the latest version of the world famous Solo Vaporizer. The Solo 2 is upgraded with a sleeker design in a new package and features full digital temperature controls. The Solo 2 is everything you loved about the original version and more! Precise temperature adjustments mean that you make the most of your herbs and maximize performance.

The Solo is known for high quality and performance and the Solo 2 does live up to the same standards. High quality, durable and made in Canada, thumbs up to Arizer for producing another great quality vaporizer! Let’s dive in to a little more detail on the Arizer Solo 2.

Solo 2 Overview

The Arizer Solo 2 is a portable dry herb vaporizer for dry herbs. The Solo 2 is on the medium to larger size for portable vaporizers and might not look as sexy as a Pax 3 or a Firefly 2, but what it does is perform consistently.

Part of the reason Arizers have been so successful is that they produce solid products that are always going to work the same, simple to use and great quality, made in Canada Eh! So we expect this from the Solo 2 as well.

The Solo 2 features built-in Li-Ion batteries which are charged via AC adapter, only. So charging is definitely not as convenient as other vapes which offer micro-usb charging or even interchangeable 18650 vape batteries. But, I will say without a doubt that once the Solo 2 is charged up, no need to stress about the unit dying on you, the battery life is amazing with this vape!

So the Solo 2 may not be the most convenient vaporizer, but it is an absolute beast when it comes to performance. I’d make a similar comparison with the Mighty Vaporizer by Storz & Bickel with a large size and no USB charging, it is an example of a unit with similar downsides that are completely outweighed by the incredible performance and reliability.

Lets go in to a little more detail about the Solo 2, what you get in the box, operation, performance, accessories and cleaning.

What comes in the box?

The Solo 2 box is quite large, a lot larger than I’d expect for the size of the unit but it is very sturdy. When you open the box, you should have the following items:

Operating the Solo 2

Here’s what I recommend as best practice for using the Solo 2. You can choose either one of the short or long stems. Then pack the bottom of the stem (which acts as the herb chamber) with ground materials. You want to fully pack this area but not too tight, that would restrict your airflow and lose performance.

What’s really nice about the Arizer Solo 2 is that you can also pack whole buds directly in to the bottom of the glass stem. I will say though, that the performance in doing this in terms of vapor production or efficiency with the materials, will not be as good as using ground materials to pack the chamber.

Once you have the stem packed, turn the Solo 2 upside down, so that you can insert the stem into the heating chamber of the unit without spilling your bud.

One thing here I’d definitely not make light of (and this is something that is relevant for the Solo, Air and Solo 2), is that on first use, the stem might be very tight and difficult to insert into the vaporizer. If this is the case, what you need to do is let the vape heat up to temperature first and then insert the stem. The heat causes expansion that will help if this happens to you.

You’ll probably only need to do this once or twice. Anyway, once you have the stem packed and inserted into the unit you can go ahead and turn the Solo 2 on.

To turn on the Solo 2 you’ll hold the center and top button on the control panel at the same time. As you hold them down, you’ll see the display come on and will give you a 6 second countdown before it actually turns on and allows you to engage the heater.This of course is a safety mechanism that would stop the unit from heating up accidentally in your pocket or bag.

Once the Solo 2 is on, you’ll see a really nice display screen where you can set your desired temperature. The unit is compatible with both Celsius and Fahrenheit, so you can switch between the two

I’ll use the Solo 2 at around 375 degrees which I feel produces a good combination of vapor production and flavor. Once you select your temperature you can engage the heater and the unit will reach set temperature in about 30 seconds.

Once the unit reaches the set temperature you can then start to inhale from the glass mouthpiece. You’ll want to play around with your draw technique and see what you like best. Long slow draws that will generate denser vapor, or light puffs.

Let’s talk a little bit about the performance though and how I think it compares to the original Solo as well as some other vapes.

Overall Performance

As mentioned earlier, the original Arizer Solo was known for performance and durability. With so many high tech vapes on the market featuring smart apps etc. there’s a lot more that can go wrong. What I’ve always respected about Arizer products is their ease of use, reliability and performance.

The Solo 2 vape is much the same in my opinion. It performs amazingly well. The fact that you pack in a small amount of material and the vapor just pours out of the unit, is really impressive.

From one fully packed chamber I would probably get 7-10 really big hits from the Solo 2, maybe more. It literally kept going and going and going, and one session did me in.

The vaporization efficiency is very good. The materials were fully extracted which you could see when the ground bud changed from green to brown. The Solo 2 will perform, in my opinion, at least as well, if not better than the Arizer Solo original.

In comparison with other vaporizers in the same price range, I would give the Solo 2 a 7/10 for performance.

Cleaning the Solo 2

One of the most important factors when buying a vaporizer is to consider not only performance but cleaning and maintenance.

Depending on your level of usage, materials from the chamber, through to the vapor path and mouthpiece will build up residue. Some vaporizers require a lot more cleaning and up-keep in order to keep them performing well. The Arizer Solo 2, like the Solo and the Air is very simple to clean.

The only 2 parts which require cleaning are the stainless steel heating chamber and the glass stems. Since the herbs don’t come in contact with the metal sides of the heating chamber, the only possibility is for them to touch the bottom. In order to clean the bottom of the chamber I recommend using a cotton swap with some rubbing alcohol (while holding the unit upside down) to gently clean any residue build-up.

Cleaning the stems is also very simply. Just fill the stem a third to half way with alcohol and give it a good shake. You can add a little salt to the mixture as well that gives a little grit for the extra tough residue that may build up. The more often you clean the vape the better it will work.

I’m very particular about vape cleaning. It will keep performance up and improve the lifespan of your vaporizer. Very important to clean your vape!

Best Accessories for the Solo 2

The absolute best thing about the accessories for this vaporizer is that the Solo 2 is cross compatible with ALL the Arizer Solo and Arizer Air accessories. So if you already own a Solo or an Air you should keep all your accessories as they are 100% compatible for use with the new Arizer Solo 2 vaporizer.

My favorite accessory for the Solo 2 in this case would be the Arizer 14mm Adapter. This allows you to connect your Solo with any standard water piece or bubbler that has a 14mm Female connection. Adding a bubbler to your vaporizer setup has HUGE benefits that include extra filtration and cooling, allowing you to take bigger hits with less irritation on your throat and lungs.

I’m also a big fan of the new carrying case that comes with the Solo 2 in the box. Since the Solo 2 is very rugged and durable, with the exception of the stems, its a vaporizer that I would take with me hiking or camping. The new carrying case is absolutely perfect when you’re going to be traveling with your Solo 2 on the go.

Namaste Vapes Video Review

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Get an Arizer Solo 2

The Arizer Solo 2 is the latest version of the world famous Solo Vaporizer. The Solo 2 is upgraded with a sleeker design in a new package and features full digital temperature controls. The Solo 2 is everything you loved about the original version and more! Precise temperature adjustments mean that you make the most of your herbs and maximize performance.

The Solo is known for high quality and performance and the Solo 2 does live up to the same standards. High quality, durable and made in Canada, thumbs up to Arizer for producing another great quality vaporizer! Let’s dive in to a little more detail on the Arizer Solo 2.

Solo 2 Overview

The Arizer Solo 2 is a portable dry herb vaporizer for dry herbs. The Solo 2 is on the medium to larger size for portable vaporizers and might not look as sexy as a Pax 3 or a Firefly 2, but what it does is perform consistently.

Part of the reason Arizers have been so successful is that they produce solid products that are always going to work the same, simple to use and great quality, made in Canada Eh! So we expect this from the Solo 2 as well.

The Solo 2 features built-in Li-Ion batteries which are charged via AC adapter, only. So charging is definitely not as convenient as other vapes which offer micro-usb charging or even interchangeable 18650 vape batteries. But, I will say without a doubt that once the Solo 2 is charged up, no need to stress about the unit dying on you, the battery life is amazing with this vape!

So the Solo 2 may not be the most convenient vaporizer, but it is an absolute beast when it comes to performance. I’d make a similar comparison with the Mighty Vaporizer by Storz & Bickel with a large size and no USB charging, it is an example of a unit with similar downsides that are completely outweighed by the incredible performance and reliability.

Lets go in to a little more detail about the Solo 2, what you get in the box, operation, performance, accessories and cleaning.

What comes in the box?

The Solo 2 box is quite large, a lot larger than I’d expect for the size of the unit but it is very sturdy. When you open the box, you should have the following items:

Operating the Solo 2

Here’s what I recommend as best practice for using the Solo 2. You can choose either one of the short or long stems. Then pack the bottom of the stem (which acts as the herb chamber) with ground materials. You want to fully pack this area but not too tight, that would restrict your airflow and lose performance.

What’s really nice about the Arizer Solo 2 is that you can also pack whole buds directly in to the bottom of the glass stem. I will say though, that the performance in doing this in terms of vapor production or efficiency with the materials, will not be as good as using ground materials to pack the chamber.

Once you have the stem packed, turn the Solo 2 upside down, so that you can insert the stem into the heating chamber of the unit without spilling your bud.

One thing here I’d definitely not make light of (and this is something that is relevant for the Solo, Air and Solo 2), is that on first use, the stem might be very tight and difficult to insert into the vaporizer. If this is the case, what you need to do is let the vape heat up to temperature first and then insert the stem. The heat causes expansion that will help if this happens to you.

You’ll probably only need to do this once or twice. Anyway, once you have the stem packed and inserted into the unit you can go ahead and turn the Solo 2 on.

To turn on the Solo 2 you’ll hold the center and top button on the control panel at the same time. As you hold them down, you’ll see the display come on and will give you a 6 second countdown before it actually turns on and allows you to engage the heater.This of course is a safety mechanism that would stop the unit from heating up accidentally in your pocket or bag.

Once the Solo 2 is on, you’ll see a really nice display screen where you can set your desired temperature. The unit is compatible with both Celsius and Fahrenheit, so you can switch between the two

I’ll use the Solo 2 at around 375 degrees which I feel produces a good combination of vapor production and flavor. Once you select your temperature you can engage the heater and the unit will reach set temperature in about 30 seconds.

Once the unit reaches the set temperature you can then start to inhale from the glass mouthpiece. You’ll want to play around with your draw technique and see what you like best. Long slow draws that will generate denser vapor, or light puffs.

Let’s talk a little bit about the performance though and how I think it compares to the original Solo as well as some other vapes.

Overall Performance

As mentioned earlier, the original Arizer Solo was known for performance and durability. With so many high tech vapes on the market featuring smart apps etc. there’s a lot more that can go wrong. What I’ve always respected about Arizer products is their ease of use, reliability and performance.

The Solo 2 vape is much the same in my opinion. It performs amazingly well. The fact that you pack in a small amount of material and the vapor just pours out of the unit, is really impressive.

From one fully packed chamber I would probably get 7-10 really big hits from the Solo 2, maybe more. It literally kept going and going and going, and one session did me in.

The vaporization efficiency is very good. The materials were fully extracted which you could see when the ground bud changed from green to brown. The Solo 2 will perform, in my opinion, at least as well, if not better than the Arizer Solo original.

In comparison with other vaporizers in the same price range, I would give the Solo 2 a 7/10 for performance.

Cleaning the Solo 2

One of the most important factors when buying a vaporizer is to consider not only performance but cleaning and maintenance.

Depending on your level of usage, materials from the chamber, through to the vapor path and mouthpiece will build up residue. Some vaporizers require a lot more cleaning and up-keep in order to keep them performing well. The Arizer Solo 2, like the Solo and the Air is very simple to clean.

The only 2 parts which require cleaning are the stainless steel heating chamber and the glass stems. Since the herbs don’t come in contact with the metal sides of the heating chamber, the only possibility is for them to touch the bottom. In order to clean the bottom of the chamber I recommend using a cotton swap with some rubbing alcohol (while holding the unit upside down) to gently clean any residue build-up.

Cleaning the stems is also very simply. Just fill the stem a third to half way with alcohol and give it a good shake. You can add a little salt to the mixture as well that gives a little grit for the extra tough residue that may build up. The more often you clean the vape the better it will work.

I’m very particular about vape cleaning. It will keep performance up and improve the lifespan of your vaporizer. Very important to clean your vape!

Best Accessories for the Solo 2

The absolute best thing about the accessories for this vaporizer is that the Solo 2 is cross compatible with ALL the Arizer Solo and Arizer Air accessories. So if you already own a Solo or an Air you should keep all your accessories as they are 100% compatible for use with the new Arizer Solo 2 vaporizer.

My favorite accessory for the Solo 2 in this case would be the Arizer 14mm Adapter. This allows you to connect your Solo with any standard water piece or bubbler that has a 14mm Female connection. Adding a bubbler to your vaporizer setup has HUGE benefits that include extra filtration and cooling, allowing you to take bigger hits with less irritation on your throat and lungs.

I’m also a big fan of the new carrying case that comes with the Solo 2 in the box. Since the Solo 2 is very rugged and durable, with the exception of the stems, its a vaporizer that I would take with me hiking or camping. The new carrying case is absolutely perfect when you’re going to be traveling with your Solo 2 on the go.

In last-minute negotiations between Colorado lawmakers on a major spending bill, a dubious budget fixer has emerged: marijuana taxes.

The tentative legislation unveiled this week seeks to extract additional money from Colorado’s burgeoning cannabis industry by raising the recreational marijuana special sales tax from 10 percent to the maximum 15 percent rate.

The new dollars are earmarked for rural schools and a tax break for business owners on personal property — two purposes that diverge from the original intent of voters who in 2013 approved Proposition AA imposing taxes on recreational marijuana.

The little-noticed but significant shift in how Colorado spends marijuana tax dollars is tucked inside a far-reaching measure to eliminate budget cuts for hospitals and generate $1.8 billion for road construction with the sale of state buildings.

The move is generating concern in the marijuana industry as it raises questions about increasing illegal sales and links core state expenses to a uniquely volatile industry.

“You would think if they are going to go jack up the marijuana taxes it would be for some marijuana-related purpose and not because there’s no leadership at the Capitol to talk about any other revenue source other than sin taxes and pot taxes — they are spineless,” said former state Sen. Pat Steadman, a longtime Democrat budget writer.

But House Majority Leader KC Becker, a Boulder Democrat and bill sponsor, defended how the state would spend the new pot tax revenues.

“I think that a lot of people think that marijuana taxes are just a budget solver for the entire state of Colorado,” she said. “I think a lot of people in Colorado who are involved in small businesses think that the business personal property tax is cumbersome and confusing. So I think this is a good marriage between meeting a lot of needs and expectations.”

The current tax rates for recreational marijuana at dispensaries in Colorado are the second highest in the nation among those with a legalized industry, according to a 2016 Tax Foundation study.

The state’s cannabis consumers pay the standard 2.9 percent state sales tax plus a special 10 percent marijuana sales tax. A 15 percent excise tax applied on wholesale transfers is baked into the cost of sale.

Under the legislative proposal, the increase to the 15 percent special sales tax rate is paired with the elimination of the 2.9 percent regular sales tax. So the move amounts to a 2.1 percentage-point tax hike for consumers. The shift moves all recreational marijuana tax collections outside the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights revenue calculations.

Each percentage point increase in marijuana taxes equates to about a $10 million increase in tax revenue for the state, said Chris Stiffler, an economist at the Colorado Fiscal Institute. For the consumer, this type of increase would result in a $20 pack of edibles costing $21, he added.

What did voters intend?

How the state spends marijuana tax dollars has evolved since lawmakers asked voters to bless Proposition AA. The ballot question told voters the money would cover the expense of regulating the new marijuana industry and pay other associated costs, such as programs for youth education and drug treatment.

“There was a lot of discussion in the first few years about what were the voters’ expectations, what voters wanted us to be doing,” recalled Steadman, who helped craft the law. “That scope of purposes has grown in time … as what the voters intended in 2013 matters less and less.”

The money for rural schools — estimated at $10 million a year for three years — probably fits under the current allowable uses, thanks to the leeway built into the law that allows for spending related to “adolescents and school-aged children in school settings.”

But the business tax break represents an entirely new direction.

Senate President Pro Tem Jerry Sonnenberg, the Republican bill sponsor, said the proposed legislation includes an exception to carve out the money for the business tax break.

Mason Tvert, a Marijuana Policy Project spokesman and supporter of Amendment 64, which legalized recreational marijuana, and Proposition AA, questioned the proposed use of tax money.

The black market and volatility

The other concern is the black market. Colorado lawmakers approved a measure in 2016 to lower the special sales tax rate on recreational pot to 8 percent starting July 1, in part citing concerns about illegal sales.

A tax increase probably won’t deter consumers, but it also may not sit well with others, said Paul Seaborn, assistant professor of management at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business and instructor of the college’s “Business of Marijuana” course.

“It seems ironic that our state government is counseling consumers to use marijuana responsibly and yet they seem to be moving toward developing some sort of financial dependence,” he said.

On the other hand, the tax measure shows the industry’s maturation.

“It’s probably not fair to the industry, but it goes to show how attractive it is … and our state government now has a particular stake in whether the industry is growing or not,” Seaborn added.

Over the long term, analysis suggests that price volatility and competition from other legal recreational marijuana states could eat away at that revenue stream.

The spot price of marijuana flower in Colorado dropped as low as $1,352 per pound, after starting the year at $2,151 per pound. This year, that wholesale price is averaging about $1,300, he said.

On a retail level, prices also slid as per-gram averages of flower dropped from $9.46 in January 2016 to $6.84 in December 2016, according to data from BDS Analytics. Prices perked up to start the year at $7.55 per gram in January and have climbed to $9.19 per gram in February.

“I think the fact that prices are going to fall,” Steadman said, “is probably more of a risk to everyone’s grand plans that they are scheming right now.”

Since the transition from a medical marijuana to a recreational/adult-use marijuana laws in the state of Oregon, this has be a highly contested topic between activists, industry professionals, and State policy makers.

We received this news from the governing authority of the recreational/adult-use marijuana program (the OLCC) just yesterday, and it goes into effect on Monday. I imagine this is welcome news to many of the cannabis growers in Oregon.

From the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC):OLCC Approves Medical Bump-Up Canopy for Marijuana Producers–Establishes Sharing Framework between Producers and PatientsPortland, Oregon – The Oregon Liquor Control Commission today [April 28] approved rules allowing growers licensed in Oregon’s Recreational Marijuana Program to grow marijuana specifically for Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) cardholders. Under this “medical bump-up” arrangement recreational producers will be allowed to grow additional canopy above what is allowed in their OLCC license.

The new rules allow producers to enter into agreements with OMMP cardholders, however a medical cardholder can only have one assigned grower. Producers that decide to add medical bump up canopy can transfer useable marijuana to an OMMP cardholder.

If a cardholder allows, a producer may transfer excess to other cardholders and caregivers, and OMMP dispensaries and processors. All production and transfer of excess product is required to be tracked in the Cannabis Tracking System (CTS).

“This will be the first medically grown marijuana in Oregon under regulations that meet the compliance guidelines of the federal Cole Memo,” said Marvin Revoal, Acting Chair of the OLCC. “It’s important that we keep legally produced marijuana from being diverted to the illegal market, and again Oregon’s leadership shows that both medical and recreational marijuana can be regulated together.”

The OLCC already allows the sale of medical grade marijuana products by its licensed retailers and those products amount to about 14% of sales in the OLCC regulated environment. Under the bump-up rules up to 25% of the yield grown for an OMMP cardholder can be sold to OMMP processors and dispensaries.

Addressing the concern voiced by patients, doctors, and medical marijuana advocates that the three pound limit would create a medicine shortage for some patients, Commissioner Pamela Witherspoon called on the Commission to adopt an exception process for patients who need more medicine.

Steven Marks, the Commission’s Executive Director said the agency would monitor patients’ ability to obtain their medicine – especially those with serious illnesses, and act to ensure patient access to medicine either in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority, or within the OLCC’s own rulemaking authority.

“This approach strikes a balance in that it will cover the need of the majority of OMMP cardholders,” said Steven Marks, Executive Director of the OLCC. “At the same time the OLCC wants to help patients who are seriously ill be able to obtain whatever amount of cannabis-derived medicine they need to treat their illnesses and help them maintain or improve their quality of life.”

The OLCC will monitor the implementation of the bum-up canopy rules and if necessary adjust the rules as the agency learns more from producers and OMMP cardholders who participate in the bump-up program. The bump-up rules take effect on May 1, 2017.

DES MOINES, Iowa — A medical marijuana oil program approved by the Iowa Legislature might not offer much help to patients with qualifying medical conditions, but advocates say it’s at least a step in the right direction.

The measure approved by lawmakers in the final hours of the legislative session Saturday would expand a little-used program now only available to people with epilepsy. If signed by Gov. Terry Branstad, the law would allow the limited production of cannabis oil at two locations in Iowa and legalize its use for an additional eight conditions.

Despite the expansion, medical marijuana advocates said the decision to cap the level of the active ingredient and limit the means of ingestion means the program has limited value.

Sen. Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, called the program “the worst in the country.”

“For people who were opposed to doing anything, I suppose they think this is a big deal,” he said. “But the fact of the matter is that they shouldn’t have put all the conditions in the bill because the medicine isn’t going to provide a therapeutic benefit for eight of the nine conditions, and that’s sad.”

Besides prohibiting smoking, vaporizing or consuming marijuana edibles, the bill limits the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, allowed in the oil to 3 percent. THC is the compound known for psychoactive effects, and by capping it at 3 percent advocates said it limits the oil’s potential to help conditions besides seizures.

Some programs, mainly in conservative states, have caps with even smaller percentages of THC.

Only 38 people have medical cannabis cards under Iowa’s current system, which makes it illegal to manufacture or distribute the oil. It’s unclear how many more would enroll if the new program is signed into law.

Sunil Kumar Aggarwal, a doctor researching cannabinoid medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said some conditions besides seizures could benefit from low-THC oil, but that the benefit is less certain because of the cap.

“It’s an extremely non-scientific regulatory framework for cannabis,” he said. “It’s all politics. This is no way to do medicine.”

Rep. Jarad Klein, a key supporter of the legislation, said the program’s limitations stem from the hesitation of House Republicans to legalize any form of marijuana.

“A lot of this boils down to a compromise, and this is not necessarily … my personal ideal,” he said. “I had to get something I knew we could pass and that I have a high confidence the Governor will sign.”

The conditions covered in the expanded program include: cancer; multiple sclerosis; seizures; HIV or AIDS; Crohn’s disease; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Parkinson’s disease; untreatable pain; and any terminal illness with a life expectancy of under a year.

The Marijuana Policy Project, a national lobbying organization, said 29 states have comprehensive medical marijuana programs, while 16 offer cannabidiol extract with minimal THC. By the group’s standards, Iowa falls in the second category and is not considered to have a “workable” medical marijuana program.

“It will certainly be beneficial to those suffering from seizure disorders, no question,” said Maggie Ellinger-Locke, legislative counsel for the organization. “But the THC cap will leave most patients behind.”

We have been covering the topic of social cannabis consumption for quite a while at The Weed Blog. Being based in Portland we would love to see Oregon be the first state to pioneer this area of the cannabis industry (and we are sure hopeful with Senate Bill 307 on the lines currently). However, some legislative activity in Nevada this past week might make the Silver State the first to have legalized and regulated social cannabis consumption clubs.So, will Nevada be the first state with cannabis clubs?

A bill allowing local governments to issue permits for marijuana social clubs has passed in the Nevada Senate.The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the bill passed 12-9 Tuesday and next will be reviewed by the Assembly. Lawmakers say tourists do not have a safe place to use recreational marijuana, which is legal in Nevada. They say this bill would give tourists a place to go and relieve some pressure off casinos and hotels. Andy Abboud, Las Vegas Sands Corp. senior vice president, says pot lounges in Clark County would be located on the Las Vegas Strip.

As we all know, other states allowing recreational/adult-use marijuana have discussed public social clubs, but no such bill has yet been passed. In Oregon, we were fortunate to have The World Famous Cannabis Cafe (WFCC) and have awesome event producers like Tokeativity who have been able to provide safe spaces for adults to consume cannabis together.

Madeline Martinez is the founder/sole-proprietress of The WFCC and she explained it perfectly.

“Moving forward we need and deserve safe, cannabis-friendly social venues in all legalized states. We [cannabis consumers]are law-abiding, taxpaying citizens and, given the opportunity, we choose to consume legally, out of public view, to protect the rights of consumers and non-consumers alike.”

A research initiative is hoping to get approval for a study that would require recruiting 25,000 marijuana consumers in Berlin.

According to The Local, the group called theResearch Initiative on Cannabis Consumption is hoping to get an application for a new study approved so that they can analyze the “consequences of cannabis for psychologically healthy, adult consumers”. The aim is to “understand what effects cannabis use has after several years”, according to the group, which was started by an attorney and a clinical psychology professor at the Medical School Hamburg.

The group reported last week that they submitted an updated application to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) for approval.

Germany officially legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes at the beginning of this year, allowing doctors to prescribe their seriously ill patients the drug if they believe it will bring about positive results. However, the research initiative is hoping to examine the effects of recreational use, which remains illegal.

So far 2,000 people have signed up to participate in the study within the first ten weeks of the search. The initiative leaders said that in selecting participants, they will “rule out anyone under 18, first-time pot smokers, as well as anyone with potential addiction or psychiatric problems.”

If the study obtains approval, participants would be allowed to pick up 30 grams of cannabis normally reserved for medical patients each month from a pharmacy.

“In Germany several million people regularly get high on cannabis,” wrote chief executive of the project Marko Dörre in a statement. “It is time that science becomes more engaged with recreational use.”

Anthony, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheJointBlog, has worked closely with numerous elected officials who support cannabis law reform, including as the former Campaign Manager for Washington State Representative Dave Upthegrove. He has also been published by multiple media outlets, including the Seattle Times. He can be reached at TheJointBlog@TheJointBlog.com.

Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney says Saturday’s raid at a warehouse hosting a pot-smoking party might have been “overkill.” Police arrested 22 people and seized more than 50 pounds of marijuana. About 175 people were allowed to leave without charges.

The mayor says he understands why police busted the party, citing the large amount of marijuana present and potentially dangerous conditions in the building.

But he says marijuana legalization is “the real solution.”

In 2014, the city made possession of small amounts of the drug punishable only by a citation and a fine, but marijuana sales weren’t decriminalized.

According to a new study, the decriminalization of marijuana in the Czech Republic has had no effect on the average starting age of those who consume the plant.

In 2010 the Czech Republic decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis and other drugs. A study being published by the International Journal of Drug Policy, and e-published ahead of print by the U.S. National Institute of Health, has found that this law change has had no effect on the age of onset of marijuana use.

For the study, researchers used “2012 survey data to examine the effect of a change in cannabis policy on the age of onset of cannabis use.” They estimated “the effect of the policy change using a mixed proportional hazards framework that models the transition to first cannabis use.

After examining the data, it was found that the change in cannabis policy “did not affect the transition to first cannabis use.”

Researchers conclude by stating; “We find no evidence of cannabis decriminalization affecting the age of onset of cannabis use.”

Anthony, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheJointBlog, has worked closely with numerous elected officials who support cannabis law reform, including as the former Campaign Manager for Washington State Representative Dave Upthegrove. He has also been published by multiple media outlets, including the Seattle Times. He can be reached at TheJointBlog@TheJointBlog.com.